Khodaafarin County
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Khoda Afarin County ( fa, شهرستان خداآفرین) is in East Azerbaijan province, Iran. The capital of the county is the city of Khomarlu. At the 2006 census, the county's population (as Khoda Afarin District of
Kaleybar County Kaleybar County ( fa, شهرستان کلیبر) is located in East Azerbaijan province, Iran. The capital of the county is Kaleybar. At the 2006 census, the county's population (including those portions of the county later split off to form Khod ...
) was 34,461 in 7,492 households. It was separated from the county in September 2011. The following census in 2011 counted 34,977 people in the newly formed Khoda Afarin County, in 9,169 households. At the 2016 census, the county's population was 32,995 in 10,196 households. Before the Islamic Revolution, Khomarlu was merely a village which was distinguished from other villages for housing the headquarters of Royal Gendarmery. The notary office was located in Abbasabad village and operated by a cleric, who also acted as the spiritual authority of the whole district.


Economy

Before the
Islamic Revolution The Iranian Revolution ( fa, انقلاب ایران, Enqelâb-e Irân, ), also known as the Islamic Revolution ( fa, انقلاب اسلامی, Enqelâb-e Eslâmī), was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dyna ...
of 1978, then a district of Ahar County, had a dynamic economy; the surplus agricultural products from fertile farmlands along Aras were exported to
Ahar Ahar ( fa, italic=yes, اهر, az, اهر) is a city and capital of Ahar County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. According to the 2016 census, Ahar was the fourth most populated city of the province with a population of 100,641 in 20,844 fam ...
, and on the lush uplands large herds of sheep were a common sight. Of course, since the turbulent days of Azerbaijan Democratic Government, some residents were travelling to Tehran or Tabriz for seasonal work on construction projects, and by the late 1970s some of these migrant workers were established contractors. Accordingly, majority of active male population was spending half of the year in cities. The
Islamic Revolution The Iranian Revolution ( fa, انقلاب ایران, Enqelâb-e Irân, ), also known as the Islamic Revolution ( fa, انقلاب اسلامی, Enqelâb-e Eslâmī), was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dyna ...
drastically changed social order. In the 1978–1979 period many of the migrant workers in Tehran constructed illegal dwellings on government lands at the North-East of Tehran and moved their families to the city. During the second big migration wave of the 1990s, most villages of the county were evacuated and residents settled in the shanty-towns at the South-West of Tehran. In recent years, some expatriates have returned and constructed decent houses. The county is already experiencing a construction boom. This has rapidly increased demand for construction workers. Moreover, the capital inflow to the county in anticipation of potential boom in Eco-tourism has resulted in launching many projects related to hotels and campgrounds.


Language

The spoken language of a vast majority of the inhabitants is modern
Azeri Azerbaijanis (; az, Azərbaycanlılar, ), Azeris ( az, Azərilər, ), or Azerbaijani Turks ( az, Azərbaycan Türkləri, ) are a Turkic peoples, Turkic people living mainly in Azerbaijan (Iran), northwestern Iran and the Azerbaijan, Republi ...
, which has much similarity to
Turkmeni Turkmens ( tk, , , , ; historically "the Turkmen"), sometimes referred to as Turkmen Turks ( tk, , ), are a Turkic ethnic group native to Central Asia, living mainly in Turkmenistan, northern and northeastern regions of Iran and north-weste ...
, Afshar and the Anatolian Turkish The ancient Indo-European, Iranic language of the province before its turkification, survives in the Tati language, particularly in its
Karingani Karingani is a Northwestern Iranian language closely related to Talysh and the Harzandi dialect. It is spoken in East Azerbaijan Province East Azerbaijan Province ( fa, استان آذربایجان شرقی ''Āzarbāijān-e Sharqi''; az-A ...
dialect. In addition to the large village of
Karingan Karangan ( fa, كرنگان, also Romanized as Karangān, Karanagān, and Kerengān; also known as Karanīgān, Karankan, Karingan, Kerenkān, and Kyurengyan) is a village in Sina Rural District, in the Central District of Varzaqan County, East Az ...
, the villages of Chay Kandi, Kalasor, Khoynarood, and Arazin also are the last speakers of the old native language of Azerbaijan. . The mountainous terrain, shepherding and cultivation of hillsides possess the isolating features for the development of a sophisticated whistled language. The inhabitants of the region employ the fingered whistle format for long range communication. More importantly, the majority of males are able, and perhaps addicted, to masterfully mimic the melodic sounds of musical instruments using fingerless whistle. Melodic whistling, indeed, appears to be a private version of the Ashug music for personal satisfaction.


Administrative divisions

The population history and structural changes of Khoda Afarin County's administrative divisions over three consecutive censuses are shown in the following table. The latest census shows two districts, seven rural districts, and one city.


Historical sites

*
Aynaloo Ayenehlu ( fa, اينه لو, also Romanized as Āyenehlū and Ainaloo) is a village in Minjavan-e Gharbi Rural District, Minjavan District, Khoda Afarin County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 10, in 4 famili ...
. An old mansion in the lush
Aynaloo Ayenehlu ( fa, اينه لو, also Romanized as Āyenehlū and Ainaloo) is a village in Minjavan-e Gharbi Rural District, Minjavan District, Khoda Afarin County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 10, in 4 famili ...
valley, which was built by wealthy Tomanies in 1907. *
Vinaq Vinaq ( fa, وينق, also Romanized as Vīnaq; also known as Vinek; in hy, Վինէ) is a village in Minjavan-e Sharqi Rural District, Minjavan District, Khoda Afarin County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran Iran, officially the Islam ...
. An old mansion in Vinaq village, which was built by Tomanies in 1907. The mansion is similar to the Aynaloo mansion in architecture. * Baba Seyfaddin pilgrimage site near
Garmanab Garmanab ( گرمناب) was a village in Khoda Afarin County which was abandoned by the turn of the 20th century. In late nineteenth and early twentieth century the village was inhabited by Armenians, who later emigrated to Armenia or Tabriz. Jus ...
village. The village is also a significantly important place as in last 150 years it has been inhabited by Armenians, followers of Yarsan religion and Shia Islam, respectively. The graveyard of Armenians has been preserved and the writings on the grave stones may provide important clues to the history of Arasbaran. *
Khoda Afarin bridges Khuda or Khoda ( fa, خدا) is the Persian word for "Lord" or "God". Originally, it was used in reference to Ahura Mazda (the name of the God in Zoroastrianism). Iranian languages, Turkic languages, and many Indo-Aryan languages employ the word. ...
. Two bridges on Aras river are located near Khomarlu. One bridge is badly damaged and the other is still usable for pedestrians. The later bridge is 160 m in length. * Alherd village. This historical village has an ancient graveyard with tombstones, unusually, engraved with ornamental figures. It is possible that archaeological studies may unravel significant historical evidences.


Ashugh An ashik ( az, aşıq, ; tr, âşık; fa, عاشیق) or ashugh ( hy, աշուղ; ka, აშუღი) is traditionally a singer-poet and bard who accompanies his song—be it a dastan (traditional epic story, also known as '' hikay ...
music

The county has been known as the epicenter of Arasbaran school of
Ashugh An ashik ( az, aşıq, ; tr, âşık; fa, عاشیق) or ashugh ( hy, աշուղ; ka, აშუღი) is traditionally a singer-poet and bard who accompanies his song—be it a dastan (traditional epic story, also known as '' hikay ...
music. The mountainous terrain, and the socio-cultural upheavals of the past two centuries have given a characteristic melancholic feature to the songs composed by the rebel-poets originating from the region. A revealing example is a song which was composed by Bahman Zamani following the tragic drowning of
Samad Behrangi Samad Behrangi ( fa, صمد بهرنگی; June 24, 1939 – August 31, 1968) was an Iranian teacher, social activist and critic, folklorist, translator, and short story writer of Azerbaijani descent. He is famous for his children's books, particu ...
in Aras. If, the mighty mountains can boast their height again, If the crystal-clear water can irrigate the slopes again, If, again, the ripen fruits can bent green branches, Then, who says that my melodic words will not outlive me? Two living masters of
Ashugh An ashik ( az, aşıq, ; tr, âşık; fa, عاشیق) or ashugh ( hy, աշուղ; ka, აშუღი) is traditionally a singer-poet and bard who accompanies his song—be it a dastan (traditional epic story, also known as '' hikay ...
music, Changiz Mehdipour and Rasool Qorbani, were born in Khoda Afarin county. In addition, many inhabitants, particularly the second generation immigrants living in Tehran, play
Kopuz The komuz or qomuz ( ky, комуз , az, Qopuz, tr, Kopuz) is an ancient fretless string instrument used in Central Asian music, related to certain other Turkic string instruments, the Mongolian tovshuur, and the lute. The instrument can be f ...
as a manifestation of their long denied cultural identity.


References

Counties of East Azerbaijan Province {{EastAzerbaijan-geo-stub